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The budget airlines have finally decided to target Romania. One of the new routes being opened up in autumn 2007 is Luton to Targu Mures / Transylvania by Wizzair. We travelled there by Wizzair from Budapest for £16 one way.
Our original intention had been to revisit the wonderful Medieval City of Sighosoara, which is about 50km from the airport. On reflection (and despite of our impression from some guide books) we decided that Targu Mures might be worth seeing and booked into a roadside motel close to the airport at just under £14 per room per night.
Transylvania was only ceded by Hungary to Romania in 1920 and the population of Targu Mures is still split roughly evenly between Romanians and the countries Hungarian minority, with a few ethnic Roma also present.
Prior to the First World War Hungary embarked on a programme of Magyarisation during which they constructed a number of fine buildings in the Hungarian style which link older churches and public buildings.
It is not only the design of the buildings which gives Turgu Mures it’s appeal, but also their condition. Although Romanian houses are among the cleanest in the world inside, their external appearance often seems neglected, except in the main historic areas (Sighisoara, Brasov etc). In Targu Mures the buildings seem freshly painted with reliefs in contrasting colours. Even in the blocks of flats in the suburbs, there seemed to be more window boxes and floral displays than usual.
The focal point of the city is the Piata Trandafirilor (Roses Square), more of a boulevard than a square. At one end is the City Hall and Cultural Palace (1913), at the other the Orthodox Cathedral (completed 1934). Between them are a range of attractive buildings. Museums in this area include the Art Gallery and History Museum in the Cultural Palace, an Ethnographic and Folk Museum and Natural History Museum.
There is an attractive modern Square off Piata Trandafirilor with a fountain and the National Theatre building.
Continuing past the Cathedral, we reached the Citadel. There is a museum within it’s walls as well as a Calvinist Church (1430).
Conclusions: Targu Mures is well worth a visit as a side trip from Budapest or as part of a tour of the area. Virtually all of the attractions of Targu Mures (including shops and restaurants) are in or close to Piata Trandafirilor, so one day is sufficient. If you have more than one day, we would recommend visiting Sighisoara rather than a longer stay at Targu Mures.
Targu Mures has a railway station, but is not on a major line, though Sighisoara is. We left the city on a microbus service which goes to Sighisoara, Brasov and Bucharest.
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